Brake adjuster



'May17,-1938. .A;A.E,LHER 2,117 28 BRAKE ADJUSTER Filed June 16/1937 2 SheetsS heet 1 Inventor away 14. E/ucer B @Mm .4fiorneus Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,117,288 BRAKE ADJUSTER Amos A. Blucher, Owings Mills, Md., asslgnor g: one-half to Edward L. Blair, Westminster,

Application June 16, 1937, Serial No. 148.594

2 Claims.

This invention appertains'to new and useful improvements in rneans for adjusting the brake shoes of motor vehicle brakes.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a brake adjuster wherein the adjustment takes place automatically as the brake bands wear.

Another important object of the invention is' to provide a self-adjusting brake shoe device which will be automatic, positive acting and not susceptible to the ready development of defects.

In the drawings:-- Figure 1 represents an inside elevational view of the brake structure showing the self -adjusting devices.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Flgurefi is a perspective view of the hollow element of one of the devices. t

Figure 4 is a perspective of the solid element of one of the adjusting devices.

Referring to the drawings wherein-like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that one of these devices generally referred to by numeral 5 25 is employed for each of the shoes 6. It can also be seen in Figure 1 that numeral 1 denotes the pivotal end of each of the shoes 6 while the remaining ends of these shoes are connected by pitmans 8 to the wheel cylinder 9 of the usual hydraulic brake system.

Each of the adjusting devices 5 consists of an elongated hollow shell I 0 and a complementary elongated oblong block I I. The block H at one end is provided with the transverse bore I 2 for accommodating a pivot pin l3 which is threaded at one end as at l4 for disposition into the wall structure l5 of the brake housing.

The shell I0 is likewise provided with openings l6 through which the pivot pin I! is disposed for L0 pivotally connecting the shell I 0 to the corresponding shoe 6.

The shell I0 is provided with a rectangularshaped opening l8 in one side thereof through which the diverged end portion IQ of the elon- =5 gated stripspring can project, and this strip spring 20 being anchored as at 2| to the side of the shell In. It is desirable that a second spring 22 be provided at the opposite side of the shell Ill and anchored in place by 'rivets 23. The free 0 end of this spring 22 is provided with a diverged end portion 24 adapted to project through the opening 25 to engage the block ll.

As isshown in Figures2 and 4, the portion of the block II which projects into the shell I ll is 5 provided with a row of teeth 26' at one side and a. row 01' teeth 21 at its oppo "e side, the teeth 26-21 being in oblique relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the block II and in longitudinal offset relation with respect to each other. The-springs 22 and their diverged end portions lS-Zd are of the same length, so that when the 5 diverged end portion l9-is fully engaged with one of the teeth 26, the diverged end portion 24 is only overlapping a tooth 2'l half way.

Thus it can be seen, that as the brake lining of the shoe 6 wears, each application of the shoe 10 will move the shell I!) so that the diverged portions l924 will move outwardly under their corresponding teeth and when sufficient wear has taken place the diverged end portion 24 will ride over the end of its tooth and ride against the next 16 succeeding tooth, while the divergedend portion I9 will utilize about half the length of its complementary tooth. While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood 20 that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed 25 as new is:

1. In combination with a brake shoe, an adjusting device, said adjusting device consisting of a shell, a member slidable in the shell, said shell -'and member being one anchored to the shoe and the other stationarily secured, means for operating the shoe, and pawl and ratchet means between the shell and the slidable element, said pawl and ratchet means consisting in the provision of oblique teeth on the slidable member at opposite sidesthereof, strip springs on the said shell, said shell being provided with openings inwhich the free ends of the springs can project and engage the teeth.

2. In combination with a brake shoe, an adjusting device, said adjusting device consisting of a shell, a member slidable'in the shell, said sheli and member being one anchored to the shoe and the other stationarily secured, means for operating the shoe, and pawl and ratchet means between the shell and the slidable element, said pawl and ratchet means consisting in the provision of oblique teeth on the slidable memberat a pair of opposite sides thereof, strip springs on the said shell, said shell being provided with openings in which the free ends of the springs can project and engage the teeth, said teeth being offset longitudinally with respect to each other on the said slidable member.

AMOS A. BLUCHER. 

